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WASHINGTON (BaseballStL) -- It is never good when the other team is only a single away from collectively hitting for the cycle after the first three batters of the game.

That is exactly what Game 5 starter Adam Wainwright and the Cardinals faced in the first inning when the Nationals jumped to a 3-0 lead after the first three hitters.

Jayson Werth, who capped off Game 4 with a walk-off home run, doubled to start the game and scored in the next at-bat on a triple hit by Bryce Harper. Ryan Zimmerman followed with a two-run blast to deep right center field to give the Nationals an early 3-0 lead in front of the Nationals faithful.

With no outs, Wainwright struck out the next three batters to end the inning.

Two innings later, Harper smacked a solo home run to give the Nationals a 4-0 lead. Wainwright then allowed a two-run home run, his third allowed in the game, to Michael Morse a few batters later.

Wainwright was yanked from the game in place of Joe Kelly. He allowed six earned runs on seven hits in 2.1 innings pitched.